Category Archives: all types of wrong

So I went shopping on 34th street yesterday. I made a quick sweep through Old Navy to see the new summer items. When I got past the double doors… there it was! A huge poster of 3 models wearing some of the featured items in the front of the store. Apparently, the jungle, urban, or tribal look is in. Sigh…

The first thing that struck me was that in this Caribbean themed display the black, dark-skinned model was in the center of the spread and prominently featured. (I’ve always heard black models get the most work, if any during the summer months because clothes are usually brighter and look better against dark skin.) Secondly, the black model was wearing a beautiful gold lame one-piece swim suit. Her hair was natural and her skin was glowing. It was here that I stopped being proud.

I brought the new April 2008 issue of Vogue Monday night as I was stumbling home from the NYC St. Patrick’s day festivities. I was drawn to the magazine because there was a black man on the cover. Hmph, Miss Anna don’t like black folks on her cover so I had to buy it. As I moved in closer, I noticed one thing about the cover that reminded me of a cover from last year. The blackman on the cover, basketball star LeBron James had is mouth gaping wide open. WTF? Jennifer Hudson’s cover last year was the same. Her mouth was wide open too! What is the deal?

Having hair that goes against the norm (not straight), I am always in search of the best hair products for my style. That isn’t always easy, but I’m willing to try almost anything. Recently my mother asked me if I had ever thought about using mayonaise, “you know… for the shine,” she says. That statement brought back a terrible memory of grade school when my mother thought putting cold coffee and coffee grounds on my hair was a good idea. Smelling like Folgers Crystals didn’t go over so well with the private school set. I quickly told her that I hated mayo with all of its purported uses and that black hair in its natural state doesn’t reflect light. Plus, Mom, my hair is matted into beautiful locs. They definitely won’t be shining any time soon. Oh, Mom… Gotta love her.

I am wililng to go to anywhere for a great shampoo and moisturizer. I’ve been to street fairs, hair salons, hair shows, and yes, the “‘hood” beauty supply store. I tend to try new products every week, one for moisture, a shampoo, an oil maybe, and even setting lotion when I want tight ringlets. But nothing is more annoying than having to go into the local drugstore to fill a perscription or get a roll of toilet paper and find yourself running around the store trying to find the “black/ethnic hair” section. Where the hell is the Luster’s Pink Lotion? And, why the fuck is it in the back of the store by the markdown products???

I was reading some of my favorite blogs this morning and I found this nonsense on textually.org. Croc cell phones cases!!! I hate hate hate those ugly ass slipper/shoe things and now, the company is making them smaller so you can put your cellphone in them. How cute???!?!?! Bleech! They come in multiple colors, but do we care?

Hermes, I love your scarfs. They are the epitome of high fashion and a must for any fashionista. But why can’t you use an ethnic model without putting her in a stereotypical situation? Indian model and elephants? COME ON!!!

I know she won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, but Diablo Cody truly needs to change her stylist. She wore a leopard print, silk chiffon gown with jewel detail by Dior by John Galliano. The outfit looked terrible on the red carpet. But it wasn’t until she got up to accept her Oscar did the hideousness of the dress truly come into view. The slit in the front was up to the “goody” and she kept putting her program over the slit to keep it from flying open. This just goes to show you that couture isn’t always so beautiful or so right. This dress in a plum or a red with no slit would have complemented her blunt bob haircut, red lips and pale skin.

But one thing I can say about Diablo Cody, born Brook Busey-Hunt is that she seemed, for lack of a better term, ‘real’. Apparently Stuart Weitzman wanted Diablo to wear the $1 Million dollar Retro Rose shoes on the red carpet. She felt disinclined. According to the Associated Press and Ms. Cody’s MySpace page, “they’re using me to publicize their stupid shoes and nobody asked me.”

The folks at Stuart Weitzman believed there was a disconnect between the two camps about the value and honor of wearing the shoes. Well I say, good for her for speaking up. She didn’t want to be seen wearing something so extravagant, I guess. But honestly Diablo, didn’t want to get a look at them? And kudos to you for not bowing down to pressure and keeping it 100% by wearing flats.

The 1940’s style retro t-strap high heels have more than 1,800 Kwiat diamonds weighing about 100 carats. Hmm… they’re OK, but not really that hot.